Difference Between Refurbished and New

Refurbished products are returned to the manufacturer or the vendor for one or the other reason and reconditioned to be sold again though not as brand new.

Refurbished is a term that people find confusing when they are buying a gadget or electronics item online. There are the usual products being sold under the category of brand new and then there are the same products being sold at cheaper prices under a category labeled refurbished. This confuses many as they do not know the differences between a new and a refurbished product. Though the low prices of refurbished product do cause an allurement, it is necessary to aware of the features of the refurbished product before investing one’s hard earned money in a refurbished product.

Refurbished

Refurbished machines, gadgets, or products are the ones that have been returned to the manufacturer or the vendor for one or the other reason. It could be a laptop that has been returned for being hot because of the cooling fan problem, a car that worked as a demo unit, a mobile handset that was returned by a customer for being defective, or any product that got damaged during shipping. Some products suffer from minor scratches and dents that render them unfit to be sold as brand new. These units are sent back to the manufacturer who carries out necessary repairs or tests to check on their condition and then makes these units as good as new to sell them at cheaper prices than the new products.

These days’ companies are giving unconditional warranty to consumers and returning money without asking any questions if the product has been returned within a small time period of say 30 days. These products may or may not have any defects, but they get lined up at the end of the vendor or the manufacturer only to be sold as refurbished ones later on. Refurbished products are at best reconditioned ones, and they can be a great bargain at times. However, to avoid being disappointed by the performance of the refurbished products, it is prudent to make a comparison with the new product before buying it.

New

Though everyone knows what new means, it is a product that has not been used and reaches the end consumer in a factory or showroom condition that carries the warranty the manufacturer provides. In many cases, the product is seal packed in a box, and you know it is new as it has not been unboxed before. New products are expensive as they are packed with latest features and are in general in a virgin condition not having been owned or used by a consumer before you.

Refurbished vs New

• Refurbished products are returned to the manufacturer or the vendor for one or the other reason and reconditioned to be sold again though not as brand new.

• Sometimes minor dents and scratches are the reason why products are returned back to the manufacturer who refurbishes them and sells them through a dealer. Even units used for demonstration purposes are refurbished to be sold at a later stage.

• Refurbished products are lower priced than new products, and you can save 10-50% discount to save on your hard earned money.

• One should buy refurbished products when he is getting warranty from the manufacturer so as not to feel cheated if there is any problem with the product later on.